Upgrade of city junction 'could go on for years'

BUT £156M SCHEME IS VITAL TO AVOID FUTURE QUEUES, SAYS COUNCIL

- By WILLIAM TELFORD

A MAJOR upgrade of Manadon Interchange will cost £156 million, could take years to complete and will cause huge disruption - but Plymouth City Council insists it is necessary to avoid gridlock as the population of the city, and the amount of traffic, grows.

The council said that by 2040, queues are expected to back onto the A38 daily, creating major safety risks if nothing is done, but it admits the proposed work “will bring disruption” and “a small number of properties may be impacted” as slip roads from the A38 are widened and new lanes installed on the A386 Tavistock Road.

The opposition Tory Group has raised concerns that the scheme could cause “years of disruption” and claims it is not needed and will amount to “a waste of money”.

A public consultation runs until June 24, with a planning application expected to be submitted next year. If plans are approved work would start in 2028. One councillor told The Herald the work could take three to four years.